Apparatus for forming stiffened and folded marginal edges in flexible fibrous panels



Aug. 29, 1967 F. SCHNEIDER 3,333,773

APPARATUS FOP FORMING STIFFENED AND-FOLDED MARGINAL EDGES IN FLEXIBLE FIBROUS PANELS Filed Dec. 2, 1963 INVENTORS' FRED SCHNEIDER. MYRON J. MANSFIELD& JOHN WILTON SEABORN ATTORNEY United States Patent APPARATUS FOR FORMING STIFFENED AND FOLDED MARGINAL EDGES IN FLEXIBLE FIBROUS PANELS Fred Schneider, Forest Hills, and Myron J. Mansfield,

Stuyvesant Falls, N .Y., and John Wilton Seaborn, Charlotte, N.C., assignors to United Merchants and Mannfacturing, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 2, 1963, Ser. No. 327,477 11 Claims. (Cl. 156-444) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This document describes an apparatus for treating the edge of a cloth panel which includes an endless belt conveyor-support and spaced chains under which each panel passes and is coated with a stiffening adhesive composition. A panel margin is folded over onto the coated stripe and a heater heats the coating material to provide a stiffened finished edge.

Description This invention relates to apparatus for applying a stripe or band of a stiffening coating to the marginal or near marginal area of a drape or other flexible panel, and more particularly is directed to improvements in such apparatus disclosed and claimed in co-pending application for United States Letters Patent Ser. No. 155,663, filed Nov. 29, 1961, now Patent No. 3,155,538.

The above identified co-pending application discloses coating apparatus for applying a stripe or band of coating material to flexible panels, preferably at the reverse side thereof, from which drapes or other window or wall hangings are made so that the coating stripe will be accurately applied to the desired area of the panel and will impart stiffness to the upper portion of a drape or other window or wall hanging made therefrom. The stiffness imparted to the upper portion of the panel by the coating stripe, provides the stiffness, similar to the well known insert of buckram heretofore employed at the top of the panels of drapes or other window or wall hangings for improving the appearance and hanging characteristics, particularly when the drape is formed with the usual spaced apart pleats at the top thereof. When the stripe or band is of a thermoplastic material such as the polyvinyls, which is set or heat cured, the same has the ability of resisting loss of its original stiffness, even upon repeated laundering or dry-cleaning of the drapes, so that the tops of the drapes, and particularly the pleats thereof, retain the crispness and sharpness necessary for the attractive appearance thereof much longer than is the case with buckram or similar stiffening inserts. The substitution of the coating stripe or band for the usual buckram insert at the upper portion of the drape eliminates the considerable item of cost represented by the buckram insert and its application to the panels of drapery fabric.

In the previously disclosed apparatus for applying stripes or bands of stiffening coating material to individual flexible panels along an edge portion of the latter, the successive panels are transported by a conveyor along a substantially horizontal path with an edge portion of each panel, for example, the edge portion which will be at the top of a drape made from the panel, extending parallel to the direction of movement and passing under spray nozzle means disposed above the path of travel of the conveyor and discharging coating material on a defined width of the edge portion of each panel to form a band or stripe of the coating material spaced from the "ice edge of the panel by a narrow uncoated margin, and heating means extending along the path of travel of the panel following the location of the spray nozzle means and located substantially in line with the latter to dry the coating material applied to each panel.

After each panel is removed from the above described apparatus, the narrow uncoated margin of the panel, which usually has been masked during the spraying of the coating material, is folded over onto the band of dry coating material and either stitched down or side serged to define a relatively narrow hem. Further, if desired, the upper portion of the panel having the band of coating material thereon, may be folded to form a facing or double thickness of fabric at the upper portion of the panel in which the pleats are formed. The turning over of the uncoated margin of each panel and the stitching down thereof constitute additional operations after the removal of the panel from the stripe or band coating apparatus which add to the manufacturing costs, Further, the uncoated margin of the panel, even when folded over and stitched down to provide a relatively narrow hem, has a raw edge which can fray or unravel to present loose threads that detract from the finished appearance of the product. If the panel is provided, at the top thereof, only with the relatively narrow hem formed by stitching the folded over uncoated narrow margin, the stitches undesirably appear at the front surface of the drape or other window or wall hanging made from the panel.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved stripe or band coating apparatus wherein, prior to the drying of the band of coating material, the narrow, uncoated margin of each panel is folded over onto the band of coating material and pressed against the latter so that, upon drying of the coating material, the latter further functions to secure the folded over margin and prevents unraveling of the raw or cut edge thereof. Thus, the folding over and fastening down or securing of the uncoated narrow margin of the panel are achieved immediately after, and at the same speed as the application of the band of coating material thereto, and in the same apparatus, thereby eliminating the relatively time consuming and costly separate operations of folding over and sewing such margin. Further, since the band of coating material acts to hold down the folded over margin of the panel, no stitching need be visible at the front surface of the drape or other window or wall hanging made from the panel.

In accordance with this invention, the stripe or band coating apparatus which also functions to fold over a narrow margin of each panel prior to drying of the applied band of coating material comprises a conveyor assembly for transporting the successive panels that ineludes:

(1) An endless conveyor, preferably in the form of a slat conveyor belt, engageable from below with an edge portion of each panel and thus supporting the latter during movement along a substantially horizontal path;

(2) A first flexible, relatively narrow endless member, preferably in the form of a chain, guided to have a lower run disposed above the slat conveyor and extending along substantially the entire path of travel of the panels so that the edge portion of each transported panel is clamped between the upper run of the slat conveyor belt and the lower run of the first chain, the first chain being laterally located so as to engage each panel at a distance from the edge of the latter, that is, along the lower margin of the zone or band of coating material to be supplied thereto;

(3) A second narrow flexible endless member, preferably also in the form of a chain, and guided to have a lower run disposed above the slat conveyor along only an initial portion of the path of travel of the panels and being laterally located so as to engage each panel along the edge thereof, that is, along the upper margin of the band of coating material to be applied thereto; and

(4) A third flexible, relatively narrow endless member, preferably also in the form of a chain, guided to have a lower run disposed above the slat conveyor and extending along a portion of the path of travel which is spaced from the lower run of the second chain in the direction of movement of the conveyor assembly, thereby to provide a gap between the lower runs of the second and third chains.

Preferably the third chain is spaced laterally from the corresponding portion of the lower run of the first chain by a distance smaller than the spacing between the first and second chains. A spray nozzle is disposed above the path of travel of each of the successive panels so as to discharge a spray of coating material between the lower runs of the first and second chains and on the marginal area of each panel between the chains, or that extending from the first flexible member to the upper edge of the panel as the latter is firmly clamped or held between the first and second chains and the slat conveyor belt. Jets are located in the gap between the lower runs of the second and third chains for directing jets of gas, preferably air onto the underside at the margin of each panel as it moves through the gap for folding over the narrow edge portion or margin of each panel previously engaged by the lower run of the second chain, whereupon the folded over edge portion or margin is engaged from above by the lower run of the third chain and thus held down against the underlying coating material by the cooperative action of the third chain and the corresponding portion of the upper run of the slat conveyor belt. Heater means are disposed along the lower run of the third chain and the corresponding portion of the lower run of the first chain and are operative to dry and set the coating material applied to each panel while the folded over edge portion of the latter is held against the coating material thereby to be secured by the latter.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for folding over the uncoated margin or edge portion of each panel includes an elongated shoe fixedly located above the slat conveyor belt in the gap between the second and third chains and being laterally located above the upper margin of the applied stripe or band of coating material, and laterally directed nozzle means for emitting jets of air or other inert gas against the uncoated margin or edge portion of each panel for turning or folding the same over the stationary shoe during passage of the panel through the gap between the second and third chains.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of this invention, will be apparent from the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, which description is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the important components of an apparatus embodying the invention for applying a stripe or band of thermoplastic coating material to panels so as to afford stiffness to the top part of drapes made therefrom, and further to fold over a margin of each panel and secure such margin in its folded over condition by means of the band or stripe of coating material;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the apparatus schematically illustrated in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the top part of a drape or other window or wall hanging made from a panel treated by the apparatus of FIGURES 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and initially to FIG- URE 1 thereof, it will be seen that the apparatus embodying the present invention comprises, as its major components, an infeed conveyor 11 for delivering successive panels P to a main conveyor assembly 12 operative to transport the successive fabric panels with the top edge of each panel extending parallel to the direction of movement thereof; a spray nozzle 13 disposed above the path of travel of the successive fabric panels transported by the main conveyor assembly 12 to discharge a spray of thermoplastic material, preferably an aqueous emulsion or latex, onto the reverse, upwardly facing side of each panel adjacent the top edge of the latter; a supply system 14 by which the aqueous emulsion or latex is supplied to the nozzle 13; a folding device 15 located along the path of travel of the panels transported by main conveyor assembly 12 following the location of the spray nozzle 13 and operative to fold over an uncoated narrow margin or edge portion of each panel onto the thermoplastic material applied to each panel; and a heating oven 16 disposed above the path of travel of the panels transported by main conveyor assembly 12 at a location following that of the folding device 15 and being operative to dry and set the applied thermoplastic material while the folded over edge portion or margin of the panel is held thereagainst.

The infeed conveyor 11 includes pulleys 17 fixed, at axially spaced locations, on a shaft 18 which is journalled in a suitable frame (not shown) of the apparatus; spaced idler pulleys 19 :freely rotatable on a shaft 20 extending laterally at the same level as shaft 18 and having its opposite ends also journalled in the frame; and endless conveyor belts 21 running around the pulleys 17 and the corresponding idler pulleys 19. A feed table 22 extends inwardly from the frame at one side of the infeed conveyor 11 and has its top surface lying in the horizontal plane of the upper runs of conveyor belts 21. An edge guide 23 extends upwardly along the outer longitudinal edge of feed table 22.

The main conveyor assembly 12 includes pulleys 24 fixed on shaft 20 adjacent the idler pulleys 19, pulleys 25 rotatable on a shaft 26 which extends laterally at the same level as the shaft 20 and is also journalled in the frame, and conveyor belts 27 running around pulleys 24 and the corresponding pulleys 25.

The main conveyor assembly 12 further includes a slat conveyor belt 28 running around axially wide pulleys or drums 29 and 30 which are fixed on the end portions of shafts 20 and 26, respectively, adjacent the side of the frame from which feed table 22 extends so that the top run of slat conveyor belt 28 extends longitudinally from the delivery end of the feed table and forms a moving support for the edge portion of each panel during the coating, folding and drying or heating operations.

In order to clamp the edge portion of each panel to the top run of slat conveyor belt 28, assembly 12 has holddown means that include an idler shaft 31 disposed above the drum or pulley 29 and an idler shaft 32 spaced vertically above the shaft 31, with the shafts 31 and 32 being suitably journalled in the frame of the apparatus. An idler shaft 33 is disposed above the drum or pulley 30 and is driven as hereinafter described in detail, and a shaft 34 is spaced vertically above shaft 33, with the shafts 33 and 34 being also journalled in the frame. A first chain 35, which is preferably coated with polytetrafluoroethylene, runs around sprockets 36, 37, 38 and 39 located on the shafts 31, 32, 33 and 34, respectively, so that the lower run of chain 35 travels along the inner longitudinal edge portion of the top run of slat conveyor belt 28. The top run of the chain 35, intermediate its ends, runs around idler sprockets 40 and 41 carried by vertically spaced apart idler shafts 42 and 43 which are suitably journalled in the frame.

A second chain 44, also preferably coated with polytetrafiuoroethylene, runs around sprockets 45 and 46 carried by the idler shafts 31 and 32, respectively, and also around sprockets 47 and 48 which are carried by suitably journalled idler shafts vertically spaced apart at a location along the top run of slat conveyor belt 28 intermediate the locations of the idler shafts 31 and. 32 and the idler shafts 42 and 43. The sprockets 45, 46, 47 and 48 are axially located so that the lower run of the chain 44 travels along the initial portion of the top run of slat conveyor belt 28 adjacent the outer longitudinal edge of the latter, that is, with a space between the lower run of chain 44 and the corresponding portion of the lower run of chain 35, which space is approximately equal to the width of the band or stripe of coating material to be applied to a panel.

The hold-down means of the main conveyor assembly 12 further include a third chain 49 also preferably coated with polytetrafluoroethylene, which runs around sprockets 50 and 51 on the shafts 33 and 34, and also around a sprocket 52 on the shaft 43 and a sprocket 53 on a shaft 54 which is suitably journalled below the shaft 43. The sprockets 50, 51, 52 and 53 are axially located so that the lower run of chain 49 travels along a portion of the top run of slat conveyor belt 28 extending from approximately the midpoint of such top run to the delivery end thereof, with the lower run of chain 49 being spaced from the corresponding portion of the lower run of chain 35 by a distance smaller than the spacing between the chains 44 and 35. It will be apparent that, while the lower run of chain 35 extends along the entire top run of slat conveyor belt 28, there is a longitudinal gap between the lower runs of the chains 44 and 49.

In order to ensure that the lower run of chain 35 extending along the relatively large distance between sprockets 36 and 38 is held tightly against the top run of slat conveyor belt 28 which functions as a support for the upper marginal areas of the panels, the top run of belt 28 is preferably made to follow an upwardly bowed or arcuate path by means of adjustably arced or bowed strips 55 which engage the underside of the top run of belt 28. Further, the bearings for the shaft 43 carrying sprockets 41 and 52 and the bearings for the shaft of the sprocket 48 are preferably vertically adjustable in the frame, thereby permitting substantial tensioning of the chains 35, 44 and 49 so that the lower runs of such chains are held against the bowed top run of the slat conveyor belt. Thus, the edge or marginal portion of each panel is securely clamped between the lower runs of the chains and the upper run of the slat conveyor belt 28 during passage of each panel through the apparatus.

The components of the main conveyor assembly 12, that is, conveyor belts 27, slat conveyor belt 28 and chains 35, 44 and 49, run continuously while the machine is in operation, for example, when a starter switch is closed. Drive of the main conveyor assembly is effected by a sprocket 55A fixed on shaft 26 and driven by a chain 56 running around a sprocket '57 fixed on the armature shaft of an electric motor 58. Thus, conveyor belts 27 and slat conveyor belt 28 are driven by the pulleys 25 and 30, respectively, fixed on the shaft 26. Chains 35 and 49 are driven by the sprockets 38 and 50 fixed on the shaft 33 which also carries a gear 59 meshing with a gear 60 fixed on the driven shaft 26. Chain 44 is driven from chain 35 through the idler shaft 31 carrying sprockets 36 and 45 and through the idler shaft 32 carrying sprockets 37 and 46.

The infeed conveyor 11 is driven only when a clutch schematically represented at 61 is engaged to provide a driving connection between the shaft 20 and a sprocket 62 which is located on that shaft along with the clutch and which engages a chain 63 running around a sprocket 64 fixed on the shaft 18. The engagement and disengagement of clutch 61 may be suitably controlled by a solenoid (not shown) which is energized to cause engagement of the clutch, and hence operation of the infeed conveyor 11, only when a panel P is positioned to be fed by the main conveyor assembly 12 under the coating nozzle 13, and such energization of the solenoid may be initiated by a suitably disposed photoelectric cell 65.

. It will be seen that the nozzle 13 is suitably suspended from the frame at a location between the chains 35 and 44 so as to discharge a spray of an aqueous emulsion of thermoplastic material or latex downwardly against the area between the lower run of chain 44 and the corresponding portion of the lower run of chain 35. Preferably, a mask 66 is suitably suspended from the frame so as to be located under nozzle 13 for shielding the chains from the spray, and further for sharply defining the band or stripe-shaped area of each panel to be coated. If desired the nozzle 13 and the mask 66 can be located at a point close to or in front of the end of lower run of chain 44, i.e., at the left hand end (viewing FIGURE 1) of the gap between chains 44 and 49.

The system 14 for supplying the aqueous emulsion of thermoplastic material or latex to the spray nozzle 13 may include a tank 67 containing a supply of the thermoplastic material, a pump 68 driven by an electric motor 69 and having its inlet connected to a tube (not shown) extending into tank.67, while the outlet of the pump is connected through a flexible tube 70 to an inlet port of a distributing valve 71. The distributing valve 71 may have an outlet or discharge port connected by a flexible tube 72 to the spray nozzle 13, and a return port connected to a flexible return pipe 73 leading back to the tank '67. The usual valve spool of distributing valve 71 may be normally urged, for example, by a spring (not shown) to a position wherein the aqueous emulsion of thermoplastic material conveyed through tube 70 from pump 68 is returned to tank 67 by way of the return pipe 73. Further, a solenoid 74 may have its armature connected to the spool of valve 71 so that, when the solenoid 74 is energized, the valve spool is shifted to establish communication between the flexible tubes 70 and 72 for discharge by nozzle 13 downwardly toward the slat conveyor belt 28 through the opening of mask 66. The solenoid 74 is energized to permit the discharge of material from nozzle 13 only when a panel is disposed thereunder, thereby preventing the collection of the sprayed material on slat conveyor belt 28 and the consequent transfer or smearing of the sprayed material onto the panels. The energization of solenoid 74 is initiated by a photoelectric cell 75 which is suitably suspended from the frame so as to be disposed immediately ahead of the nozzle 13. The photoelectric cell 75 and the cooperating circuit for energizing the solenoid 74 are effective to permit the discharge of material from nozzle 13 just before the leading edge of a panel reaches the spray path of the nozzle, and to halt the discharge of material from the spray nozzle just as the opposite or trailing edge of the panel leaves the spray path.

The heating oven 16 preferably includes a downwardly opening metal housing or reflector which is suspended from the frame and which is of elongated configuration so as to extend between the lower run of chain 49 and the corresponding portion of the lower run of chain 35 along a substantial portion of the top run of slat conveyor belt 28 from a point immediately following the gap between chains 44 and 49 to a point just before the delivery end of the main conveyor assembly 12. Resistance heating elements (not shown) are disposed within the housing 76 and are supplied with current to generate the desired temperature.

In operating the above described apparatus 10, which is generally similar to the apparatus disclosed in application Serial No. 155,663, identified more fully above, a push-button switch is closed to effect operation of the motor 58 by which the main conveyor assembly 12 is driven, operation of motor 69 driving pump 68 and supplying of current to the resistance heating elements in the heating oven 16. A panel P is then placed, with its reverse side facing upwardly, upon the belts 21 of infeed conveyor 11 and is laterally adjusted so that the top edge of the panel is against the guide 23 on table 22. When the leading edge of the panel P is sensed by the photoelectric cell 65, the latter causes energization of the solenoid for engaging clutch 61 to drive the infeed conveyor 11. The panel is thus fed to and transported on conveyor belts 27 while the top edge portion of the panel is securely held between the top run of slat conveyor belt 28 and the lower runs of chains 35 and 44. It will be understood that the chains 35 and 44 for any givenmachine are spaced apart a distance to permit the formation therebetween of the desired width of band coating with the upper marginal edge of the panel being firmly held between the lower run of chain 44 and the right-hand marginal area of the cooperating slat conveyor belt 23.

The operation of infeed conveyor 11 continues so long as a panel P is beneath the photoelectric cell 65. When the panel which is thus conveyed intercepts the light beam from the photoelectric cell 75, the latter causes energization of the solenoid 74 and thereby actuates the distributing valve 71 so that the thermoplastic material is conveyed to nozzle 13 for downward discharge from the latter onto the reverse side of the fabric panel which is passing therebelow and exposed through the opening of mask 66. The secure engagement of chains 35 and 44 against the panel on slat conveyor belt 28 prevents skewing of the panel and thereby ensures that the band-shaped layer or coating 77 (FIGURE 2) extends parallel to the top edge 78 of the panel P and when applied as shown in FIGURE 2 is spaced therefrom by a narrow uncoated margin 79 which is engaged by the lower run of the chain 44 during the coating operation.

Suitable thermoplastic materials that may be employed for the band-shaped layer or coating 77 on the reverse side of the fabric panel P include homopolymers of vinyl acetate, vinyl acetate polymers, polyvinyl chloride, carboxyvinyl-vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl chloride-vinylidene chloride copolymers, vinyl chloride-maleic ester copolymers, polymers and copolymers of acrylic esters, polyethylene, and polypropylene, mixtures of the foregoing resins, or of such resins with other modifying resins and additives such as, the polyesters of acrylic and methacrylic acids, alkyd resins, chlorinated diphenyls and epoxy resins, fillers, pigments, stabilizers and plasticizers. The preferred thermoplastic is an aqueous emulsion of vinyl acetate copolymer which is available commercially under the designation Geon-990X4 from The Goodrich Rubber Company, containing a suitable plasticizer and thickener, such as a high molecular weight carboxyvinyl polymer also available commercially, under the designation Carbopol 934, from the same company, containing approximately 43% of vinyl acetate copolymer, approximately to plasticizer and thickener and the rest water.

The rate at which the thermoplastic material is discharged by the spray nozzle 13, and the rate of advancement of the panel under the spray nozzle are selected so that the thickness of the band-shaped coating or layer 77 is preferably within the range between approximately .002 and .006 inch, depending upon the stiffness or band to be imparted to the top part of a drape formed from the panel P.

When the trailing edge of the fabric panel moves past the light beam associated with the photoelectric cell 65, the clutch 61 is disengaged to interrupt operation of the infeed conveyor 11 and thereby permit the positioning of another panel thereon. When the trailing edge of the fabric panel being conveyed by the main conveyor assembly 12 moves past the light beam associated with the photoelectric cell 75, the solenoid 74 is deenergized to permit return of the distributing valve 71 to its normal position, thereby to interrupt the discharge of the thermoplastic material from nozzle 13.

In accordance with this invention, the narrow uncoated margin 79 of each panel is folded over onto the bandshaped coating 77 following the application of the latter by the spray nozzle 13 and prior to the drying of the coating 77 by the heating oven 16. The device 15 for folding over the uncoated margin 79 of each panel includes an elongated, shoe-like guide member 80 extending longitudinally above the top run of slat conveyor belt 28 in the gap between the lower runs of chains 44 and 49. The shoe: like guide member is suitably suspended, as by rods 81 (FIGURES 1 and 2), from the frame of the machine and is laterally located in longitudinal alignment with the lower run of chain 49 so as to overlie, while being out of contact with, the edge portion of the coating 77 adjacent the margin 79 which can be coated or uncoated as shown in FIGURE 3. When the spray nozzle 33 is positioned at the left-hand portion of the gap between chains 44 and 49, viewing FIGURE 2, this margin 79 is coated.

The folding device 15 includes a plurality of nozzles 82, 83 and 84 (FIGURE 2) disposed at the outside of the upper run of slat conveyor belt 28 at relatively closely spaced apart locations along the shoe-like guide member 80. The nozzles 82, 83 and 84 are connected through valves 85 with a manifold or pipe 86 through which compressed air or other gas such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide is supplied to all of the nozzles from a suitable source, for example, a blower 87 driven by a motor 88 (FIGURE 1). When the valves 85 are opened, jets of gas issue from the nozzles 82, 83 and 84 and are directed generally laterally against the edge 78 of the panel P so as to fold the uncoated margin 79 inwardly and upwardly onto the shoe-like guide member 80.

As is apparent from FIGURE 2, the nozzle 82 which is first passed by the panel following the coating of the latter directs its jet of air upwardly at an angle to the horizontal from a position slightly below the surface of the top run of slat conveyor belt 28 so that such jet of air engages the underside of the edge 78 of the panel and initiates the lifting of that edge. The next nozzle 83 issues its jet of air at a level slightly above that of the jet from the nozzle 82 and in a generally upwardly inclined and horizontal direction toward the body of the panel so as to impinge against the partially folded margin 79 and continue the folding action of the marginal portion about the longitudinal edge of shoe-like guide member 80. Finally, the next nozzle 84 is arranged so that the jet issuing therefrom is substantially in a hori zontal plane at a level higher than that of the jet issuing from nozzle 83 so as to complete the folding of the marginal portion over the member 80 and thereby complete the folding and smoothing of margin 79 onto member 80. It will also be seen that the jet issuing from nozzle 84 has a component in the direction of movement of the con veyor assembly 12 so that, as the leading end of the folded-over margin 79 moves off the member 80 for clamping engagement between the lower run of chain 49 and the top run of slat conveyor belt 28, the air jet from nozzle 84 ensures that the folded-over margin 79 will enter smoothly under the chain 49.

After folding over of the uncoated margin 79 by the device 15, further movement of the panel P by the main conveyor assembly 12 causes the folded over margin 79 to be held tightly against the underlying thermoplastic coating 77 by the clamping action of the lower run of chain 49 and the top run of slat conveyor belt 28 which serve to convey the panel past the heating oven 16, whereby the band-shaped layer or coating 77 is cured or set. The lower run of chain 49 it will be noted is positioned to engage the folded over marginal area and exert a pressing action thereon. Upon discharge of the panel at the delivery end of the main conveyor assembly 12, the band-shaped layer or coating 77 stiifens the upper art of the panel and further securely bonds the margin 79 in its folded condition.

When using vinyl acetate emulsion for the band-shaped coating 77, the electrical resistance heating elements of the oven 16 are selected to provide a temperature in the range between about 1300 F. and 1500" F., while the length of the oven 16 and the speed of advancement of the panel by the conveyor assembly 12 are selected so that the coating 77 is subjected to heating by the oven 16 for a period of between approximately .01 and 5 seconds, and is heated to a temperature between approximately 300 F. and 500 F., depending on the time of heating. When heating at 300 F., longer times of the order of seconds are used and, at 500 F., shorter times of the order of .01 second. In other words, the times and temperature within the ranges given bear an inverse relationship to each other. Preferred curing temperatures are above 300 F., say from 300 F. to 350 F.

When the panel P is discharged from the apparatus 10, the same has a narrow hem at its upper end defined by the folded margin 79 secured by the stiffening coating 77, and such stiffened upper end portion of the panel can be employed, as is, as the upper part of a drape or other window or wall hanging in which pleats are to b formed. Preferably and as shown on FIGURE 3, the upper portion of the panel P having the band-shaped coating 77 thereon may be further folded over to form a double thickness of fabric at the upper portion of a drape made from the panel, with the stiffening coating 77 being disposed on the inner surface of the back facing of the upper part of the drape, and with the folded over margin 79 forming a narrow finishing hem at the bottom edge 'of such facing. In either case, it will be apparent that the apparatus It] automatically folds over the margin 70 before the setting or curing of the material of coating 77 so that such thermoplastic material secures the margin 79 in its folded over condition, without requiring stitching for that purpose, and further prevents unraveling of the raw edge of the margin 79.

The panel P may be woven, knitted, felted or of other construction composed of any desired fibrous material, such as, cotton, slik, glass fibers, synthetic fibers and blends of such fibers, which materials are all flexible.

The described apparatus can be used to apply any desired band-width of coating, with the spray tip of the nozzle 13 and its height above the conveyed panel being adjusted accordingly. The mask 66 may have an opening to provide a width of the band-shaped coating of from 3 to 4 inches, with the uncoated margin 79, when used, having a width of approximately 1 inch, but it is to be understood that these dimensions are exemplary and can be changed as desired.

Although an illustrative embodiment of this invention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scone or spirit of the invention:

What is claimed is:

. 1. In an apparatus for applying stripes of adhesive coating to individual flexible panels, the combination of, y a conveyor for transporting successive panels along a path with an edge of each panel extending parallel to the direction of movement along said path, said conveyor comprising a support movable along said path for carrying the marginal portion of each panel adjacent said edge of the panel, and hold-down means engageable from above with each panel carried by said support and movable with the latter to cooperate with said support in clamping each panel therebetween, said hold-down means including a first member extending along the entire length of said path and engageable with each panel along an area of the latter spaced from said edge, a second member extending along an initial portion of said path and spaced from said first member to engage each panel along said edge of the latter, and a third member extending along a portion of said path which is spaced longitudinally from said first portion; spraying means disposed above said support of the conveyor and operative to spray a stripe of heat settable adhesive coating material on each panel; folding means located along said path between said second and third members of the hold-down means and operative to fold-over a narrow margin of each 10 panel onto the previously applied stripe of coating material, whereupon upon continued movement of said panel the folded-over margin of each panel is clamped against the stripe of coating material by engagement between said support and said third member of the hol-ddown means; and

heating means located along said path to set the coating and thus bond the folded over margin of said panel to produce a finished hem along said edge of said panel.

2. In an apparatus for applying bands of stiffening adhesive material to individual flexible panels, the combination of,

a conveyor for transporting successive panels along a path with an edge of each panel extending parallel to the direction of movement along said path, said conveyor comprising a support movable along said path for carrying the marginal portion of each panel adjacent said edge of the latter, and hold-down means engageable from above with each panel carried by said support and movable with the latter to cooperate with said supportin clamping each panel therebetween, said hold-down means including a first member extending along the entire length of said path and engageable with each panel along an area of the latter spaced from said edge, a second member extending along an initial portion of said path and spaced from said first member to engage each panel along said edge of the latter, and a third member extending along a portion of said path which is spaced longitudinally from said first portion, said third member being spaced from said first member a distance less than that between said first and second members;

spraying means disposed above said support of the conveyor and operative to spray adhesive coating material downwardly toward said support between said first and second members of the hold-down means,.

thereby to apply a band of coating material to each panel as the latter is conveyed past the spraying means with an uncoated narrow margin remaining between said band and said edge of said panel;

folding means located along said path between said second and third members of the hold-down means and operative to fold over the narrow uncoated margin of each panel onto the previously applied band of coating material, and hold said margin folded over until clamped against the band of coating material by engagement between said support and said third member of hold-down means; and

heating means extending along said portion of the path substantially coextensive with said third member of the hold-down means and being laterally located between said first member and third member to dry the band of coating material applied to each panel whereby said band stiffens the edge portion of the panel and secures the margin of the panel in its folded-over condition.

3. In an apparatus for applying bands of stiffening adhesive material to individual flexible panels, the combination of,

a conveyor for transporting successive panels along a path with an edge of each panel extending parallel to the direction of movement along said path, said conveyor comprising a support movable along said path for carrying the marginal portion of each panel adjacent said edge of the latter, and hold-down means engageable from above with each panel carried by said support and movable with the latter to cooperate with said support in clamping each panel therebetween, said hold-down means including a first member extending along the entire length of said path and engageable with each panel along an area of the latter spaced from said edge, a second member extending along an initial portion of said path and spaced from said first member to engage each panel along said edge of the latter, and a third member extending along a portion of said path which is spaced longitudinally from said first portion, said third member being spaced from said first member a distance less than that between said first and second members;

spraying means disposed above said support of the conveyor and operative to spray adhesive coating material downwardly toward said support between said first and second members of the hold-down means, there by to apply a band of coating material to each panel as the latter is conveyed past the spraying means with an uncoated narrow margin remaining between said band and said edge of the panel; and folding means comprising a flat-elongated member extending longitudinally above said support between said second and third members of the hold-down means and being longitudinally aligned with said third member; and

nozzle means directing jets of air laterally toward said edge of each panel as the latter passes under said flat member so that the uncoated narrow margin of the panel is folded over onto said fiat member and is thereafter clamped against the band of coating material by engagement between said third member of the hold-down means and said support.

4. In an apparatus for applying bands of stiffening adhesive material to individual flexible panels, the combination as in claim 3; further comprising heating means extending along said portion of the path substantially coextensive with said third member of the hold-down means and being laterally located between said first and third members to dry the band of coating material applied to each panel whereby the dried coating material stiifens the panel at said band and further secures the folded-over margin of the panel.

5. In an apparatus for applying bands of adhesive coating material to individual flexible panels, the combination of,

a conveyor for transporting successive panels along a path with an edge of each panel extending parallel to the direction of movement along said path, said conveyor comprising a slat conveyor belt guided to have an upper run movable along said path for carrying the marginal portion of each panel adjacent said edge of the latter, and hold-down means engageable from above with each panel carried by said slat conveyor belt and movable with the latter to cooperate with said support in clamping each panel therebetween, said hold-down means including a first endless chain guided to have a lower run extending along the entire length of said path and engageable with each panel along an area of the latter spaced from said edge, a second endless chain guided to have a lower run extending along an initial portion of said path and spaced laterally from said lower run of the first chain to engage each panel along said edge of the latter and a third chain guided to have a lower run extending along a portion of said path which is spaced longitudinally from said initial portion, said lower run of the third chain being spaced from said lower run of the first chain by a distance less than that between said lower runs of the first and second chains;

spraying means disposed above said slat conveyor belt of the conveyor and operative to spray a band of adhesive coating material on each panel between said lower runs of the first and second chains as the panel is conveyed past the spraying means with an uncoated narrow margin remaining between said band and said edge of the panel; and

folding means located along said path between said lower runs of the second and third chains and operative to fold-over the narrow uncoated margin of each panel onto the previously applied band of coating material, and holding said margin folded over until clamped against the band of coating material by engagement between said upper run of the slat conveyor belt and said lower run of the third chain.

6. In an apparatus for applying bands of adhesive coating material to individual flexible panels, the combination as in claim 5; further comprising heating means extending along said upper run of the slat conveyor belt between said lower runs of said first and third chains to dry the band of adhesive coating material applied to each panel whereby the dried band of coating material stiffens the panel and secures said margin of the latter in its folded-over condition.

7. In an apparatus for applying bands of adhesive coating material to individual flexible panels, the combination as in claim 5; wherein said folding means includes an elongated shoe-like member extending longitudinally above said upper run of the slat conveyor belt between said lower runs of the second and third chains and being longitudinally aligned with said lower run of the third chain, nozzle means arranged alongside said upper run of the slat conveyor belt in the region of said shoe-like member and directed substantially laterally toward the latter, and means for supplying compressed air to said nozzle means for issuance from the latter as air jets directed against the edge of each panel for folding said uncoated margin of the latter onto said shoe-like member.

8. In an apparatus for applying bands of adhesive coating material to individual flexible panels, the combination of,

a conveyor for transporting successive panels along a path with an edge of each panel extending parallel to the direction of movement along said path, said conveyor comprising a support movable along said path for carrying the marginal portion of each panel adjacent said edge of the latter, and hold-down means engageable from above with each panel carried by said support and movable with the latter to cooperate with said support in clamping the marginal portion of each panel therebetween;

spraying means disposed above said support of the conveyor and operative to spray a band of adhesive coating material on each panel adjacent said edge of the latter as the panel is conveyed past the spraying means with an uncoated narrow margin remaining between said band and said edge of the panel;

folding means located along said path following said spraying means and operative to fold-over the narrow uncoated margin of each panel onto the previously applied band of coating material, and holding said margin folded over until clamped against the band of coating material by engagement between said support and said hold-down means; and

heating means extending along said path above said support following said folding means and being laterally located in line with said spraying means to dry the band of coating material applied to each panel whereby the dried coating material stifiens the panel at said band and secures the folded-over margin of the panel.

9. In an apparatus for applying bands of adhesive coating material to individual flexible panels, the combination as in claim 8; wherein said folding means includes a flat elongated shoe-like member fixedly located above said support between said spraying means and said heating means and being laterally located inwardly with respect to the uncoated margin of each panel, and nozzle means located alongside said support and directing jets of air laterally inward toward said fiat member whereby the uncoated margin of each panel is folded by said jets of air onto said flat member.

16. In an apparatus for applying bands of adhesive coating material to individual flexible panels, the combination as in claim 9; wherein said nozzle means includes a 11. In an apparatus for applying bands of adhesive coating material to individual flexible panels, the combination of,

a conveyor for transporting successive panels along a path with an edge of each panel extending parallel to the direction of movement along said path, said conveyor comprising a slat conveyor belt guided to have an upper run movable along said path for carrying the marginal portion of each panel adjacent said edge of the latter, and hold-down means engageable from above with each panel carried by said upper run of the slat conveyor belt and movable with the latter to cooperate with said slat conveyor belt in clamping each panel therebetween said hold-down means including a first chain having a lower run along the entire length of said path and engageable with each panel along an area of the latter spaced from said edge, a second chain having a lower run extending along an initial portion of said path and spaced from said first chain to engage each panel along said edge of the latter, and a third chain having a lower run extending along a portion of said path which is spaced longitudinally from said initial portion, said third chain being spaced from said first chain by a distance less than that between said first and second chains;

spraying means including a stationary mask disposed above said initial portion of the path and having an opening between said lower runs of the first and second chains, a spray nozzle directed downwardly above said mask, and means supplying heat settable adhesive coating material to said spray nozzle for discharge from the latter, thereby to spray a band of coating material on each panel through said opening of the mask as the panel is conveyed past the spraying means with an uncoated narrow margin remaining between said band and said edge of the panel;

folding means including a flat elongated member extending longitudinally between said lower runs of the second and third chains and being aligned with said third chain, and a plurality of air nozzles arranged alongside said upper run of the slat conveyor belt in the region of said fiat member and emitting jets of air laterally toward the latter at progressively increasing levels and progressively decreasing angles of inclination above the horizontal in order to foldover the uncoated margin of each panel onto said fiat member and holding said margin folded over until clamped against the band of coating material by engagement between said lower run of the third chain and said upper run of the slat conveyor belt; and

heating means for heating the panel while clamped to set the band of coating material thus bonding the folded-over margin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,135,880 11/1938 Waldman et al 15646-3 2,781,818 2/1957 Beckman et al 156202 3,031,356 4/1962 Bousquet et a1 156-202 3,155,538 11/1964 Schneider et al 1182 EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

35 PHILIP DIER, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,338,773 August 29, 1967 Fred Schneider et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 67, for "supplied" read applied column 7, line 54, for "band" read hand column 8, line 8, for "33" read l3 column 9, line 9, for 'folded" read folded over line 31, for "slik" read silk column 10, line 42, for "said panel" read the panel column 11, line 12, for "there by" read thereby column 13, line 4, for "dirction" read direction Signed and sealed this 5th day of November 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, J r. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

3. IN AN APPARATUS FOR APPLYING BANDS OF STIFFENING ADHESIVE MATERIAL TO INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PANELS, THE COMBINATION OF, A CONVENOR FOR TRANSPORTING SUCCESSIVE PANELS ALONG A PATH WITH AN EDGE OF EACH PANEL EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT ALONG SAID PATH, SAID CONVEYOR COMPRISING A SUPPORT MOVABLE ALONG SAID PATH FOR CARRYING THE MARGINAL PORTION OF EACH PANEL ADJACENT SAID EDGE OF THE LATTER, AND HOLD-DOWN MEANS ENGAGEABLE FROM ABOVE WITH EACH PANEL CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT AND MOVABLE WITH THE LATTER TO COOPERATE WITH SAID SUPPORT IN CLAMPING EACH PANEL THEREBETWEEN, SAID HOLD-DOWN MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST MEMBER EXTENDING ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF SAID PATH AND ENGAGEABLE WITH EACH PANEL ALONG AN AREA OF THE LATTER SPACED FROM SAID EDGE, A SECOND MEMBER EXTENDING ALONG AN INITIAL PORTION OF SAID PATH AND SPACED FROM SAID FIRST MEMBER TO ENGAGE EACH PANEL ALONG SAID EDGE OF THE LATTER, AND A THIRD MEM BER EXTENDING ALONG A PORTION OF SAID PATH WHICH IS SPACED LONGITUDINALLY FROM SAID FIRST PORTION, SAID THIRD MEMBER BEING SPACED FROM SAID FIRST MEMBER A DISTANCE LESS THAN THAT BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS; SPRAYING MEANS DISPOSED ABOVE SAID SUPPORT OF THE CONVEYOR AND OPERATIVE TO SPRAY ADHESIVE COATING MATERIAL DOWNWARDLY TOWARD SAID SUPPORT BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS OF THE HOLD-DOWN MEANS, THERE BY TO APPLY A BAND OF COATING MATERIAL TO EACH PANEL AS THE LATTER IS CONVEYED PAST THE SPRAYING MEANS WITH AN UNCOATED NARROW MARGIN REMAINING BETWEEN SAID BAND AND SAID EDGE OF THE PANEL; AND FOLDING MEANS COMPRISING A FLAT-ELONGATED MEMBER EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY ABOVE SAID SUPPORT BETWEEN SAID SECOND AND THIRD MEMBERS OF THE HOLD-DOWN MEANS AND BEING LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID THIRD MEMBER; AND NOZZLE MEANS DIRECTING JETS OF AIR LATERALLY TOWARD SAID EDGE OF EACH PANEL AS THE LATTER PASSES UNDER SAID FLAT MEMBER SO THAT THE UNCOATED NARROW MARGIN OF THE PANEL IS FOLDED OVER ONTO SAID FLAT MEMBER AND IS THEREAFTER CLAMPED AGAINST THE BAND OF COATING MATERIAL BY ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID THIRD MEMBER OF THE HOLD-DOWN MEANS AND SAID SUPPORT. 